Rural Lighting Project
Position: Research Associate
Deadline to Apply:1st March 2015
Start Date: 13th April 2015
Eligibility: This position is open to all applicants
About Innovations for Poverty Action: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit research organization that creates and evaluates approaches to solving development problems. IPA disseminates the results of its evaluations to policymakers, practitioners, investors and donors around the world.
About Innovations for Poverty Action: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit research organization that creates and evaluates approaches to solving development problems. IPA disseminates the results of its evaluations to policymakers, practitioners, investors and donors around the world.
IPA seeks qualified applicants for
the position of Research Associate for the “Rural Lighting Project”, which is a
Randomized Control Trial looking at the take-up, use and impact of solar
lighting on rural households in Western Kenya.
We are looking for an enthusiastic
Research Associate to manage data collection, quality assurance and initial
analysis. The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field
management experience in an organization at the cutting edge of development
research.
Position Summary: The Research Associate will oversee all aspects of
field work in Kenya, under the supervision of a Research Manager, and in close
consultation with the Principal Investigators based at the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.
Responsibilities:
- Manage multiple data collection activities
simultaneously;
- Develop and pilot survey instruments;
- Help design forms for electronic data
collection (using ODK) and manage survey data;
- Train and manage field team to conduct surveys
together with the field manager;
- Ensure all aspects of data quality and assist
with data cleaning and preliminary analysis;
- Manage logistics of all project activities;
- Manage project budget, including tracking
project expenses and adherence to the project budget;
- Work closely with the Principal Investigators
and the local partner organization to ensure study protocols are followed;
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in
economics, statistics, social science, or related field.
- Excellent management and organizational skills
along with strong quantitative skills.
- Solid knowledge of STATA is a strong plus.
- Familiarity with database management and
randomized control trials is a strong plus.
- Experience screening, training, and managing
staff a strong plus.
- Outstanding interpersonal, verbal and written
communication skills. Fluency in English required.
- Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage
multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player.
- Be detail oriented and able to work
independently.
- Experience living and working in a developing
country required.
To Apply: Please
send a cover letter and detailed CV including daytime phone number, email
address, and 3 professional references. Your CV should include your scores or
grades and other measures of academic achievement, and details about any
relevant work experience.
Applications must be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org, please ensure that the subject line reads: “RESEARCH ASSOCIATE: REF NO: RURAL LIGHTING-2015-02-01.
Position: Senior Research Associate - Parasitology
Deadline to Apply:28th February 2015
Start Date: Flexible, June 2015 at the latest
Location: Western Kenya
Eligibility: This position is open to all applicants
About Innovations for Poverty Action
(IPA): Innovations for Poverty Action
(IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and promoting
effective solutions to global poverty problems.
In close partnership with decision
makers - the policymakers, practitioners, investors, and donors working with
the poor around the world - we design and evaluate potential solutions to
poverty problems using randomized evaluations, the most rigorous evaluation
method available.
We also mobilize and
support these decision makers to use these solutions to build better programs
and policies at scale.
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) seeks a qualified applicant for the position of Parasitology and Environmental Sampling Coordinator for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Benefits Project.
Currently in the midst of a five-year
study, WASH Benefits is collecting rigorous evidence on the health impacts of
improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices, alongside improved nutrition
in rural Kenya.
Low-cost technologies and behavior
change communications strategies are being implemented to promote drinking
water treatment, good sanitation practices, handwashing with soap and improved
nutrition.
One of the objectives of the WASH
Benefits project is to assess the impact of these interventions on child
parasite infections. A second objective is to evaluate how improved water,
sanitation, and hygiene affects child exposure to fecal contamination in the
household environment.
This position is located in Kakamega,
Kenya.
This position is supervised by the
Research Manager with guidance from the project Principal Investigators (PIs)
Dr. Clair Null (Innovations for Poverty Action), Dr. Amy Pickering (Stanford
University), and Dr. Audrie Lin (UC Berkeley).
The Coordinator will also work
closely with collaborators at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
The Senior Research Associate-Parasitology, under the general supervision of the Research Manager and within the limits of Innovations for Poverty Action-Kenya policies and procedures coordinates the facilitation of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Benefits activities and functions within IPAK.
Below is a list of some of the
general duties and responsibilities of the Senior Research Associate, to be
carried out as needed according to the determination of the Research Manager in
close coordination with the Implementation Manager and Project Director.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will work
closely with senior project management and staff to perform a variety of tasks
including, but not limited to:
- Develop and supervise implementation of sample
collection and processing systems described below to ensure of the highest
quality data, including; development/modification of lab standard
operating procedures (SOP), process documentation, tracking systems, and
monitoring of staff performance
- Keep senior management (managers, directors
and PIs) appraised of all key developments related to parasitology and
environmental sampling and analysis activities, including provision of
written reports
- Supervise laboratory technicians and field
staff involved in parasitology and environmental sampling activities,
including holding regular meetings and coordinating trainings
- Oversee sample collection, processing, and
microbial analysis of samples from drinking water sources, household
stored water, child hands, and child toys for quantitative enumeration of
fecal indicator bacteria using membrane filtration.
- Oversee sample collection, processing,
aliquoting, and sample flow of child stool and blood samples to measure
biomarkers of parasite infections among young children (e.g. microscopy of
stool for soil-transmitted helminth infections, aliquoting of stool)
- Liaise with collaborators at the Kenya Medical
Research Institute in analyzing project stool samples by ELISA and qPCR to
detect soil transmitted helminth infections and protozoan infections, and
analysis of blood spots by Luminex for other enteric pathogen infections.
- Coordinate and oversee logistical planning for
sample collection, processing, flow, and data entry by tracking
enrollment, specimen collection, and follow-up targets; working with
supervisors to determine when corrective action is needed in order to
ensure that activities are consistent with approved SOPs and project
objectives
- Lead the design and participate in the coding
of survey instruments to be used during field sample collection
- Assist with data management, data cleaning,
and analysis of all lab and field sample collection data
- Provide projections, and basic oversight of
financial accounting related to lab activities.
- Participate HR oversight process and provide
recommendations to senior management on all aspects of HR for parasite and
environmental sampling components of the study
- Overall responsibility for inventory and
procurement coordination for all lab and field parasite and environmental
sample collection activities
- Closely coordinate with Data Management, Data
Collection, Logistics and Procurement personnel
Desired Qualifications and
Experience:
- Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in a relevant
field such as parasitology, biology, environmental health, public Health,
or other related field
- Laboratory experience, preferably in the
context of a field lab in a low-income country
- Experience with culture based bacterial assays
a plus
- Experience processing blood and stool samples
a plus
- Experience with soil transmitted helminthes or
Kato Katz analysis a plus
- Experience with qPCR and/or running ELISA
assays a plus
- Experience with Open Data Kit, Survey CTO, CS
Pro and STATA a plus
- Experience shipping and tracking samples
- Excellent management and organizational skills
along with strong quantitative skills
- Excellent management, organizational, critical
thinking and interpersonal skills
- Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage
multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
- Strong written and oral communication skills
and complete fluency in English is required. Kiswahili proficiency is
preferred.
- Experience working in a low-income country
(particularly sub-Saharan Africa)
- Familiarity with randomized controlled trials
We are looking for a commitment
period of 1 year for this position with the possibility to extend.
To Apply: Please
send a cover letter and detailed CV including daytime phone number, email
address, and 3 professional references.
Your CV should include your scores or
grades and other measures of academic achievement, and details about any
relevant work experience.
Applications must be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org, please ensure that the subject line reads: “SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE-PARASITOLOGY REF NO: REF NO: WASH B-2015-02-03.
Shortlisted candidates will be
contacted by email for an interview.
Applicants are encouraged to apply
early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Senior Research Associate _ Parasitology. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org.